Gökhan Zan: 'My fellow Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe players, please do not take the pitch'

12punto.com.tr

The 2022-2023 Süper Lig champion Galatasaray and the Turkish Cup winner Fenerbahçe are set to face each other in the Super Cup match.

Ahead of the match, which is scheduled to begin at 20:45 on Friday, December 29, in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, allegations that banners and t-shirts featuring Mustafa Kemal Atatürk were not permitted have sparked a crisis.

EMERGENCY MEETING

It was alleged that Saudi authorities did not allow the two teams to take the field with Mustafa Kemal Atatürk banners and pre-match t-shirts in celebration of the 100th anniversary of our Republic, and that upon this, the executives of both clubs showed sensitivity and insisted that they would only play if these were allowed.

Former Galatasaray and national team player Gökhan Zan reacted to this stance by Saudi Arabia on social media.

Former footballer Gökhan Zan used the following expressions:

"We challenge those insolent people who do not allow our National Anthem, Atatürk banners, and t-shirts at the Super Cup Final to be played between Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray in Saudi Arabia! Hey, you Saudi rag, pull yourself together! Who do you think you are? By what right do you wag your finger at the Turkish Nation? Where or from whom do you get this right? No one can wag their finger at our country's values, its founding leader, or its children."

'DO NOT TAKE THE PITCH!'

Addressing the players, Zan stated, "My fellow Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe players, do not take the pitch for that match and teach the world a lesson in dignity. We will embrace you. This country will not forgive those who sell their dignity for two cents when this match should have been played on Turkish soil, in a manner befitting Turkey, in the 100th year of the Republic of Turkey."